May 30, 2013 — Just three years ago, I had the ability to catch nearly 100,000 pounds of Gulf of Maine cod. My son and I worked hard to provide for our families and to put food on America’s tables. Yet today, I can catch just a fraction of what I used to catch. My livelihood has been slashed before my eyes because the scientific reports changed so drastically. Good afternoon, my name is Joe Orlando and I am from the fishing community of Gloucester. Like my father and my ancestors before me, I am a life-long fisherman. I own and operate the fishing vessel Padre Pio with my son, Mario. Padre Pio is a 65-foot trawl vessel, and we fish for groundfish like cod, haddock, and flounders off the coast of Massachusetts. We fish during the day and return at night to make an honest living while providing fresh, sustainable seafood to the world. My story is just like other small fishing businesses that have managed to survive reduction after reduction, and fishery management changes.
Fishermen like my son and I have worked hard and sacrificed to rebuild fish stocks. We did so with the promise that the future of the groundfish fishery would be very bright—with key fish stocks on target to be rebuilt by 2014. Because of that promise, I heavily invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the fishery to make my business viable. Just three years ago, I had the ability to catch nearly 100,000 pounds of Gulf of Maine cod. My son and I worked hard to provide for our families and to put food on America’s tables. Yet today, I can catch just a fraction of what I used to catch—just 16,000 pounds of Gulf of Maine cod. On other species, I took an average cut of over 50 percent. My livelihood has been slashed before my eyes because the scientific reports changed so drastically. With these reductions, I can’t even afford to properly maintain my boat. Expenses keep adding up—my boat is due upgrades and an engine overhaul that’s going to cost $50,000 and I just can’t afford to do it. Other fishermen are in my same shoes—the reductions will cause safety issues too.
Mario and I have to carefully plan our fishing days now—we fished one trip this month, and I think we only have a couple more trips until mid-July. Then we’re done. We won’t be allowed to bring in enough to even pay my business’ debts. I am in financial ruin. My son, who has three young kids, a wife, and a new home wanted to take our business into the next generation. Now, it’s just not possible without some sort of help. There has to be balance between sustaining fish populations and sustaining fishing communities. It’s sad to think that our strong fishing history will possibly come to an end. Once the small fishing businesses that New England is known for are gone, they’re not coming back. We have to do something to preserve both the fish and our fishermen. The interim rule request for Gulf of Maine cod and haddock was a step in the right direction.
Thank you to Attorney General Coakley for your ongoing support for the commercial fishing community. Thank you for stepping up and recognizing that conservation can be achieved without destroying my business or this entire fishery. I appreciate your help to do what’s right.